Sunday, March 24, 2013

Cooking? Me?!

   One of the things that I have had to learn here is to cook. Those of you that know me, know I don't cook... (I am still holding out for that dream of marrying someone who can!) And this is not just cooking with packaged stuff like in the states, this is cooking from scratch. Me and my teammates make a meal plan every week for each of us to cook one night a week. Breakfast and lunch are free for all. Since this plan we have experimented quite a bit and learned from some of our Kenyan and Indian friends.
*Most of the pictures are proof that I have cooked and no one has died. Yet.*
My first attempt at making popcorn on the stove... The only thing is I forgot to put the lid on it. My roommate and me started screaming trying to find the lid! I really really wish I had it on film..
 Shredding chicken for Mexican chicken! (I said, this one is for my mommy, she would be so proud!)
 The final product! It was DELISH!!
 Apparently they liked it too... At least they said they did.
My no-bake granola bars with chocolate chips.
 Amy's Triple fudge cake. (This was from a box, but the icing was hommade!)
 Trying out Mama's biscuit recipe. They turned out pretty great too! Btw, Amy hasn't cooked before either...
When it was Amy's night to cook, she decided to make ravioli from scratch.. Here she is rolling out the tough noodle dough..
 It's the shape of AFRICA!!! We were having too much fun making a mess, I mean cooking, and jamming out to music. :)

We stuffed them with Mozzerella cheese and mixed herbs. I lost count of how many we stuffed!
 I swear she is Italian.. But she says she is Swedish.. Whatever!
 The final dinner! Garlic toast, homemade ravioli, and fresh green beans!
 Our Indian friends Ektaa and Sonia. They came over and cooked Paneer, rice and naan.
 We all stayed in the kitchen to visit while they were stirring..
 (Paneer is fried cottage cheese in a tomato sauce, and Naan is like a puffy tortilla.) So good!!
 All of us girls!
 Ektaa is showing us how it's done!
Needless to say, I am ready to come back and show off my international cooking skills.. :) Anyone want to sign up for African or Indian night?

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Water Fun!

So on the hot days in Kenya one way or another we always find something to do with water. One day we took Emma and Avery (Two of the Suel girls) to Safari Park Hotel across the highway. This place in legit! They set out chairs and towels for you, and you can also order anything to eat of drink. The pool was amazing and COLD.

These beautiful flowers were floating everywhere in the water. It looked like the perfect fairy tale lagoon! 


 The big girls under the waterfall.
 Avery sliding down...
 Kasey!
 Me and Emma.. Thank goodness my camera is waterproof!
 Being mermaids..

 Capture this!

 Me and Ms. Emma...



 Fixing our "missionary tans"...
 One hot day while stuck on the compound, me and Ester decided to lay out in the sun for a while. We got hot, so we turned the sprinkler on to cool off... The diameter of the water spray was only about 7 inches...
 We finally ended up holding it upside down like a shower head to get wet.. Amy captured us through the window while laughing...

Just hanging around...

Meanwhile at the ranch (or compound in this case), we find all sorts of ways to entertain ourselves during Sunday afternoons and week nights...
This is on a rainy Sunday afternoon... Movie day with my roomie!
 Speakers, Narnia marathon, and homemade popcorn!
 Playing "Hand and Foot" with The Hunts after HOMEMADE cinnamon rolls, bacon, and smores!
 They are so awesome! This game took 5 hours...
 Tree climbing before dinner... I taught her everything she knows!

 "This is how you do it! One foot here, the other <oof> here. See? It's easy!"

 This one took me a minute or two to get out of... :)
 My sister would be so proud of me for this. Look at all the contrast and shadowing! ;)



 These are always right outside my windows. Simply Beautiful!


Friday, March 22, 2013

Mondays!

                On Monday mornings we walk the 2-ish miles to the Rehema Orphanage. Rehema means "Mercy" in Kiswahili (which I am trying so hard to learn!). When the kids see us at the gate and run to greet us. Totally precious! It is such a blessing to get to love on these kids, help the workers by cutting potatoes and carrots for stew for lunch. Several students from USIU volunteer several times a week for community service hours required for their degrees.
      So after playing with the kids, we help them prepare for lunch. This gives us the opportunity to engage the students in spiritual conversations! Over the last few weeks I have got to share my testimony 4 times, talked about Baptism, Creation to Church, and several Bible stories! It's so cool to get to love on kids and talk to students outside of campus (where we are not allowed to tell bible stories).

 This is Sharon. She is such a sweety and a new believer.
Frank cutting carrots!
 Frank (on the far right), one of the workers, Sharon, and Elvis.
 Kayla and Levi...
 Elijah! When you call his name he replies, "Huh?"
 He is also very ticklish!
 Aww... He hurt his tooth and crawled into her lap and said, "Momma!"
 Amy and Baby Ester!
 They love the slide!

Ryan (pronounced Lion sometimes!) and Ester!

Look at that face!
She is so precious!


Kisses!



Levi!
Swinging!!
They love sitting like that too! In this one Levi was "tickling" Ryan while we were swinging..
Joy and Kristen with one of the workers. They love him!